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Ann Cao

Savvy Games Group, the video gaming powerhouse owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is looking to the Chinese market for inspiration as it embarks on a new phase of global expansion, according to company executives.
During a recent visit to Shanghai, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice-chairman of Savvy, highlighted China’s appeal, citing its vast consumer base and exceptional talent pool.
“What is unique to China is its ability to be successful in games and esports without an international market,” the prince said in an interview with the Post. He cited the example of Delta Force, a shooting game developed by Tencent Holdings, which attracted nearly 13 million daily active users in China within months after its launch.
“There’re very few markets anywhere else where you can get that kind of growth locally to set up and give you the time to have that international growth,” he said.

Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy, said the firm was actively seeking “great companies worldwide that we can partner with, either commercially or strategically”, with China identified as a particularly promising market.
“China is a fantastic market because it’s a big one, and secondly, there’s some of the best talent in the world,” Ward said. “There are some genres of games you might not even try to make elsewhere in the world now.”
Ward said the company hoped to reach new partnerships or make new investments in the local market, although he did not provide specific details and suggested that any agreement might not happen soon.
Savvy’s growing interest in China aligns with broader efforts to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for the video gaming and esports industry by 2030.
That initiative is a key part of Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework launched in 2016 to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy. The goal is to create 39,000 local video gaming jobs and contribute US$13.3 billion to the country’s gross domestic product by 2030.
Established in 2021 by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Savvy has made investments in globally renowned game studios, including its acquisition of game developer and publisher Scopely in the US.
The company is also expected to benefit from a recent US$55 billion deal involving a group of investors – including PIF – to acquire US video gaming giant Electronic Arts, developer of the EA Sports series and The Sims, marking the second-largest deal ever in the sector.

Industry observers are closely monitoring Savvy’s pursuit of new deals, especially after Ward said the company was looking for its “next multibillion-dollar deal” in China and other Asian markets, according to a Financial Times report in September.
Savvy’s last direct investment in a Chinese video gaming company was in 2023, when it acquired a 30 per cent stake in Tencent-backed Hero Esports for US$265 million, aiming to tap into Asia’s esports market.
Ward said Savvy saw opportunities “outside of mature Western markets”, particularly in emerging and Asian markets and in hardcore rather than casual game genres. He also identified personal-computer and console games as areas of interest for the company.
Prince Faisal highlighted the company’s ambitions to develop self-produced AAA titles, partly inspired by Black Myth: Wukong, a critically acclaimed action role-playing game from Chinese start-up Game Science.
“It was one of the best games that I have ever played,” he said. “There are groups of young men and women in Saudi who are now coming together to create games, which gives us the opportunity to get to a point where we can create something like Black Myth: Wukong.”
Savvy’s engagement reflects a broader desire to strengthen ties between Riyadh and Beijing: this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
“Our focus on this trip is to build relationships, have conversations and build a future where China and Saudi grow closer together in gaming and esports,” the prince said.


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Saudi video gaming giant Savvy eyes China after success of Delta Force, Black Myth: Wukong

Saudi Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice-chairman of Savvy Games (right), and CEO Brian Ward. Photo: Handout

Delta Force, a popular shooting game from Tencent Holdings. Photo: Handout

Black Myth: Wukong is one of China’s most successful video games in recent years. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong ready to play in esports arena, executive of video-gaming gear company says

Players and fans enjoy an e-sports event on August 30, 2025, at CyberArena in the Cyberport Mall. Photo: Karma Lo

Gamers play at a press conference for the esports event Rivals HK 2025 at Cyberport Mall on June 10, 2025. Photo: Dickson Lee

Tencent’s hit title Delta Force prompts sharpened focus on shooting games

Since its launch in 2024, Delta Force continues to attract 30 million video game players daily. Photo: Handout

A promotional poster of Delta Force, available on mobile and personal computer versions. Photo: Handout

Leo Yao, general manager of Timi J3 Studio. Photo: Handout

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The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets


The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets.


Saudi video gaming giant Savvy eyes China after success of Delta Force, Black Myth: Wukong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets

The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets